Uncommon Knowledge: Why is lemonade so refreshing?

It’s your go-to when you’re packing for a picnic and the nicest thing to offer an overheated repairman who has been working on your broken AC unit for the last three hours. So what is it that makes lemonade so thirst quenching? Turns out sour flavors stimulate salivation more than any other taste, while acidity masks less-refreshing flavors like sugar. In addition, we’ve been conditioned to associate citrus with refreshment. From air fresheners to facial cleansers, the “bright” and “fresh” feel of grapefruit soap or lemon room sprays promise to keep things light and perky. However, we argue that the best spokesperson for a tall glass of lemonade is that little makeshift stand down the street with the toy cash register and the cute kid with a pitcher of the good stuff.

Kate is a copywriter. Strangers would describe her as that very tall girl with glasses, as would her friends. She is pretty good at needlepointing, surprisingly good at bocce ball, and very bad at choosing between sweet and savory at brunch. She is well-liked by most dogs.

5 Beer & Food Pairings That Will Rock Your Summer
Beer lover Lucas Alcalde spent hours researching and experimenting while creating the Home Brew Journal. He learned a lot about food and beer pairings along the way! Check out his suggestions for combinations that perfectly complement summertime.

Instagram Challenge: BRUNCH
Whether it's more on the breakfast end of things or late enough to be lunch, we want to see what you're brunching on this summer.

This Just In-spiration: Meet Shandi & Casey McConnell
Our makers never fail to motivate us, encourage our creativity, and fill us with inspiration. So, when a new design enters our assortment, we’re always excited to learn more about the person behind the product. Meet Shandi and Casey McConnell, designers of the Envelope Wall Vase.

In the 1980s, two Italian researchers—Gabriele Schino (of the Institute of Psychology at Italy’s National Research Center) and Filippo Aureli (from the University of Rome)—were conducting research on yawning. They…